Felt like your summer calendar was missing a little something? That's because you might've noticed that Sundays on State—the annual street festival that transforms Chicago's most famous thoroughfare (State Street, duh) into free, interactive block party—has moved from its usual summertime schedule to two fall weekends this year. (Don't worry, the sunny weather should still be intact.)
Hosted by the Chicago Loop Alliance in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the al fresco event will be held on Sunday, September 7 and Sunday, October 5 from 11am to 6pm. This pedestrian-friendly affair will see the titular street closed to traffic (State Street from Randolph Street to Jackson Boulevard, to be exact), making it easy and safe to walk around the daytime festival.
RECOMMENDED: Chicago’s 2025 festival season dates: Everything you need to know
Throughout the day, you can expect to see lively performances from the Chicago Movement Collective, Windy City Ramblers and Rhythm Revolution; nosh on local food and beverages (Bad Johnny's Wood-Fired Pizza, Moor's Brewing Company, Taqueria La Ciudad and more are on the lineup); shop cool stuff like leather goods, hand-made jewelry, luxury bath products and retro video games; and take part in local attractions and special happenings. Nearly 400 vendors and artists are slated to appear—yeah, this is huge. (Speaking of huge, more than one million attendees have frequented Sundays on State since 2021, so prepare for crowds!)
“What started as an initiative to support the Loop’s economic recovery post-pandemic has transformed into one of the city’s marquee events,” said Chicago Loop Alliance President and CEO Michael Edwards in an official news release. Sundays on State's move to the fall season aligns with the Alliance’s efforts in supporting other big downtown events that happen in the summer, like Lollapalooza and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race. It’s a win-win!
The best part? Sundays on State is completely free to attend and open to the public. Register for free online and be automatically entered into a drawing to win a $1,000 Loop Staycation Package. Click here for a full lineup of performances, vendors, and food and drink options.